Lang
2/6/26
A suspect is accused of shocking himself while trying to steal copper from a downtown Iowa City electrical box.
Iowa City Police say 32-year-old Travis Tillman of Maggard Street was observed accessing the electrical panel on the southwest corner of Burlington and Dubuque Streets just after 2:45 Monday morning. Tillman was allegedly using a cable cutter to remove large gauge copper wire from the box. Arriving officers say they found Tillman a short distance away in possession of several burglars’ tools.
The investigation determined that Tillman had likely accessed the box on previous occasions, including suffering an electrical burn. He reportedly admitted to selling copper in Davenport for profit.
Police say the stolen copper cost several thousand dollars to replace.
Tillman was booked into the Johnson County Jail just before 4:45 Thursday afternoon and charged with 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief and Possession of Burglars Tools. If convicted on both counts, he faces a maximum of seven years in prison.